Agricul tural implement



Filed April 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 25, 1944. J. R. ORELIND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Filed April 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PMC) transport position on the tractor.

Patented July 25, 1944 John R. Orelind, Wilmette; Ill, assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 20, 1942, Serial No. 439,713

11 Claims.

This invention relates to agricultural implements and more particularly to adjusting mechanism for regulating the working depth of the working tools thereof.

It is an object of the resent invention to provide means for adjusting a gauge Wheel on an implement connected to a tractor or tool-supporting structure for free vertical and free lateral movement with'respect thereto from an adjusting mechanism-located on the tractor and removed from the implementwherein the adjustment of the workingtool with respect to the gauge wheel is unaffected as the gauge wheel traverses the contour of the ground.

It is still another object to provide a means Y for connecting the gauge wheel on the vertically and laterally movable implement with the adjustable mechanism on the tractor which may be carried by the combined lifting and stabilizing structure ordinarily connected between the tractor and implement and cooperable with the same to obtain the desired effect of maintaining the working tool in the proper relationship with-the gauge means as the gauge means traverses the" contour of the ground, and wherein asimplification of the mechanism designedv to effect these results is obtained.

According to the present invention, there is provided on the tractor a manually adjustable mechanism and on the implement, which is connected to the tractor for free vertical and free lateral movement with respect thereto, a gauge wheelwith respect to which the tool frame carrying the working tool is adjustable. Between the implement andv the tractor or tool-supporting structure is. connected a combined lateral stabilizing and lifting structure which serves not only to laterally stabilizesthe tool frame on its single supporting wheel but also serves as a means thrbugh which power is transmitted for the-purpose of raising the tool frame about its supportingwheel to-lock the implement into its bined stabilizing and lifting structure forms 'a supporting means for connecting parts extending between the manually adjustable mechanism on the tractor and-the gauge wheel on the implement; These parts are arranged with respect to the parts of the stabilizing structure to provide a double parallelogram linkage arrangement so that as the gauge wheel follows the contour of the ground the working tool is always maintained in:its proper adjusted position with respect to the gauge wheel. The adjustable mechanism on This comthe tractor includes a manually adjustable lever;

and it remains in a relatively'fixed location accessible to the operator of a tractor at all times and is not left on the implement to wobble and interfere with the lateral swinging movement of the implement by engagement of the lever withv some portion of the tractor while the tractor and implement are at work in the field.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is-a side elevational viewof a tractor and of an implement connected thereto with the adjusting arrangement embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tractor and of the implement; I I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the implement and of-the connecting partscarried by the stabilizing structure and illustrating more clearly the essence of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the connecting parts and of the stabilizing'structure and illustrating the relative positions of the same as the implement'moves vertically upon following the ground contoun Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a tractor or tool-supporting structure I I having a rear portion; l2 supported on rear traction wheels l3. The forward end of the tractor is supported 1 on dirigible wheels l4 controllable by a steering mechanism It accessible to an operator's station It on the rear portion l2 of the tractor.

To'the tractor is rigidly connected 9.. connecting' structure I! adapted forthe connection to the tractor of various implements. To this connecting structure I! is connected 9, ground-workingimplement l8 having a tool-carrying frame IS with tools 20 thereon and a connecting draft frame or structure 2! adapted to be attached to the connecting structure I! by a clevis arrangement 22. The tool-carrying frame I9 and draft frame 2! are pivotally connected together by means of a transversely extending shaft 23 and can buckle vertically with respect to each other. The rear portion of the tool frame I9 is supported on a single pivotablesupporting wheel 24 adapted to be vertically adjusted with respect td the frame I9 by a manually adjustable mechanism 25. As the draft' 'strujcture 2| and the tool frame I! buckle about th transverse shaft 23, the tool frame pivots about the single supporting wheel 24.

'In order to gauge the working depth of the tools 2 20 on the main tool frame l9, there is provided a gauge wheel 26 which is connected to the transverse shaft 23 by an arm 21. This arm 21 is rigidly connected to the transverse shaft 23 as in-' dicated by the welded union 26.

To the rear portion l2 of the tractor is connected a vertically extending bracket structure 29 having laterally spaced vertically extending attaching members 290. between which extends a combined rockable stalbilizer and lifting strucr ture 36 journaled respectively in a manner as movement being limited only by a diagonally extending limiting structure 36. It should now be apparent that the combined structure 36 serves as a stabilizing arrangement for maintaining the tool frame i9 upright on its single supporting wheel 24 to thereby maintain the frame with its tools 26 in a lateral plane.

Rigidly connected to the shaft 35 are arms 39 and 46. The arm 36 is connected by a forwardly extending connecting member 4| with the steering mechanism l5 as indicated at 42, whereby movement of the steering mechanism is imparted rearwardly and through the shaft 35 to the arm 43 on the single laterally pivotable supporting wheel 24 by a link 44. By this means the single supporting wheel 24 is steered simultaneously with the dirigible wheels l4. v

It should now be apparent that if an adjusting mechanism for the gauge wheel were to be provided on the implement, which is movable with respect to the tractor, that its manual adjusting lever would bounce about and would seldom be located in one location with respect to.

the operator's station as the tractor and its implement passed over the ground. Hence, the means to be presently described has been pro-- vided whereby the adjusting lever can be located on the tractor and be always accessible to the operator's station l6.

Accordingly, there has been provided on the shaft 35, a sleeve 56 rotatable thereon having a vertically extending arm 5| and a rearwardly extending arm 52 connected by means of a link 53 to a strap 54 on the arm 21 serving to connect -the gauge wheel 26 with the transverse shaft 23.

It may be noted particularly from Figure 1 that the connecting link 53 is substantially parallel with the swingable links 31 and that likewise the arm 52 on the sleeve 56 is substantially parallel with a line drawn from the point of connection of the link 53 with the strap 54 to the point of connection of the arm 21 to shaft 23. These elements as arranged thus take the form of a parallelogram. As the gauge wheel 26 rides over the ground, the frame i9 with its tools 26 will also ride up and down or float vertically. Also the rockable structure 36 will ride up' and down, but

since the arm 5| is connected by means of a link 55 to an adjustable mechanism 56 on the bracket structure 29 and having a lever 51 accessible to the operator's station |6, the sleeve 56 in addiand 23 that free lateral swinging movementof V the tool frame is bad, the amount of swinging.

tion to moving vertically with the structure 36 will merely pivot about the shaft 35. The lever 51, forming a part of the adjustable mechanism 56, is pivoted on the rock-shaft portion 32 in alinement with its Joumaled connection 3| with the vertically extending bracket structure 29. It should thus be further noted that all of the connecting parts between the adjustable mechanism 56 and the gauge wheel arm 21 have a parallel relationship with parts of the combined stabilizing and lifting structure 36. The link 55 is substantially parallel with the arms 34, and the arm 5| of the sleeve is substantially parallel with the lever 51. These parts thusprovide for a second parallelogram arrangement, and this arrangement is connected through the sleeve with the first-mentioned parallelogram arrangement connected with the gauge wheel 26, and by this combinationof double parallelogram arrangements, the adjusted relationship between the gauge wheel 26 and the working tools 26 is always maintained as the frames move vertically to follow irregularities 'of the ground. In Figure 4, this action is illustrated with a showing in full lines of the gauge wheel passing over the ground of one contour A, with the adjusted distance between the gauge wheel and the working tool being indicated at x. Assuming that the frame l9 and its tool'26 have been moved vertically on a 'contour B, as shown in dotted lines, the distance between the tool and the gauge wheel will still be X or the same. The double parallelogram arrangement makes possible the keeping of the adjustment madeby the lever 51. The lever when adjusted stays fixed and the arrangement reacts with respect to the same.

The connection of the ends of the link 53 respectively with the arm 52 and the strap 54, as indicated respectively at 534 and 53b, is such as to provide sumcient looseness of the link 53 so that free lateral movement of the frame may be had. This link is, accordingly, laterally spaced with respect to the laterally swingable links 31, and hence due to the parallelism of all of these links in a transverse plane-the gauge wheel will accordingly be kept at the proper setting as the implement shifts freely from side to side. The arrangement is thus such that the gauge wheel is controlled regardless of whether the tool frame floats verticallyor shifts from side to side.

When lifting or the implement frame about nications 6| to single-acting fluid motors 62 located respectively at opposite sides of the tractor and adapted to react against the rear portion l2 of the tractor as indicated at 63 and to carry forwardly with the same connecting rods 64 which arein tum connected to arms 65 on the rockablestructure 36. As these fluid motors 62 are extended, the rockable structure 36 will be rocked in a clockwise direction and lifting movement will be imparted through its links 31 to the shaft 23 to thereby lift the frame |9 about the supporting wheel 24. V

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a means for connecting a manually ad- 1. In combination, a tool-supporting structure,

a working tool frame connected to the tool-supporting structure for freemovement with respect thereto, means on the tool-supporting structure for moving the said working tool frame with respect thereto, means on theworking tool frame adapted for adjustment with respect thereto, means connected between the tool-supporting structure and the means on the working tool frame adapted for'adjustment for maintaining the relative adjustment of the latter with respect to the working tool frame as the working tool frame moves with respect to the tool-supporting structure, and separate adjustable means associ-' ated with the maintaining means for effecting the adjustment of the means on the tool frame adapted for adjustment with respect to the working tool-frame, said adjustable means being independently operable with'respect to th means for moving said working tool frame with respect to said tool-supporting structure.

2. In combination, a tool-supporting structure,

.a working tool frame connected to the tool-supporting structure for free movement with respect thereto, means on the working tool frame adapted for adjustment with respect thereto, and a double parallelogram arrangement connected between the tool-supporting structure and the means on the tool frame adapted for adjustment with respect thereto for maintaining the relative adjustment ofthe latter with respect to the working tool frame as the working tool frame moves with respect to the working tool ture.

3. In combination, a tool-supporting structure,

struca working tool frame with a ground-working tool thereon connected to the tool-supporting structure for substantially free movement with respect thereto while in the ground-working position, gauging means connected to the working tool frame for adjustment with respect to the ground-working tool, a double parallelogram arrangement connected between the gauging means and the tool-supporting structure for maintaining the relative adjustment of the gauging means with respect to the working tool, and adjustable means associated with the maintaining means for adjusting the gauging means with respect to the working tool.

4. In combination, a tool-supporting structure, a working tool frame having a working tool thereon, means for connecting the tool frame to the tool-supporting structure for free movement with respect thereto in its working position, adjustable gauge means carried by the tool-supporting structure and adapted to gauge the working position of the working tool while following the contour of the ground, means on the toolsupporting structure for moving the said working tool frame with'respectthereto, adjustable means on the tool-supporting structure indement of the gauge means with respect to said 7 ment from one position to another position, means for gauging the working tool in one of its positions, means for moving the tool frame from one position to another position, said moving means including parts extending between the tool frame and the tool-supporting structure, means independent of said moving means for adjusting the gauging means including a lever carried on the tool-supporting structure and connecting parts between the lever and the gauging means, and said connecting parts being carried by the frame moving means.

6. Incombination, a tool-supporting structure, a working tool frame having a working tool thereon, means for connecting the working tool frame to the tool-supporting structure for vertical movement from one position to another position, means for gauging the working tool in one of its positions, means for moving the tool frame from one position to another position, said moving means including parts extending between the tool frame and the tool-supporting structure, means for adjusting the gauging means 7 including a lever carried on the tool-supporting structure, connecting parts between the lever and the gauging means, and said connecting parts being carried by the frame moving means, said moving. means including a rockable crank arm structure and connectinglinks extending between the tool frame and the tool-supporting structure,

the said adjusting means taken with the moving is maintained as the contour of the ground is followed by the ground gauging means. 7; In combination, an implement-supporting structure, a ground-working implement havinga tool-carrying frame with a ground-working free vertical buckling movement with respect to each other, a single supporting wheel on the rear end of the tool frame about which the-latter is pivoted when the tool-carrying frame and the draft structure are buckled, a lateral stabilizing structure carried by the implement-supporting structure and connected'totfie implement to laterally stabilize the same on its single supporting wheel, a gauge wheel on the implement for ganging the ground-working depth ofthe groundworking tool, an adjustable mechanism on the implement-supporting structure, and means carried by the lateral stabilizing structure for connecting the gauge wheel on the implement to the adjustable mechanism on the implement-supporting structure to be adjusted by the same.

8. In combination, an implement-supporting structure, a ground-working implement having a tool-carrying frame with a ground-working tool thereon and a draft structure for connecting the tool-carrying frame to the implement-supporting structure, said tool-carrying frame and said draft structure being connected together for free vertical buckling movement with respect to each other, a single supporting wheel on the rear end of the tool frame about which the latter is pivoted when the tool-carrying frame and the draft structure are buckled, a lateral stabilizing structure carried by the implement-supporting structure and connected to the implement tolaterally stabilize the same on its single supporting wheel, a gauge wheel on the implement for gauging the ground-working depth of the groundworking tool, an adjustable mechanism on the implement-supporting structure, and means forming a double parallelogram linkage arrange-- ment when taken with the lateral stabilizing structure for connecting the gauge wheel to the adjustable mechanism on the implement-supporting structure whereby the relationship of the gauge means with the working tool is maintained as the gauge wheel'follows the contour of the ground.

9. In combination, a tractor having a rear portion, a disc plow having a main disc-carrying frame with plowing discs thereon and a draft structure pivotally connected with the disc-carrying frame, said draft structure connected to the tractor forwardly of therear portion thereof, a' single supportingwheelconnected to the main frame for supporting the same, a rockable combined stabilizing and lifting structure carried by the rear portion of the tractor and connected to the main frame at laterally spaced locations thereon, power meansfor rocking said rockable structure to effect lifting of the disc-carrying frame about its supporting wheel to a transport position, a gauge wheel on the plow for gauging the ground-working depth of the plow discs, means for adjusting the gauge wheel to vary the working depth of the plowing discs including a manually adjustable mechanism carried on the tractor, arm means pivotally connected to the rockable structure, and links for respectively connecting the arm,means with the gauge wheel and the manually adjustable mechanism, whereby said gauge wheel may be adjusted by manual means located on the tractor.

10. In combination, a tractor having a rear portion, a ground-working implement having a main tool-carrying frame and. a draft frame pivotally connected to the tool-carrying frame for vertical buckling movement, said draft frame connected to the tractor forwardly of the rear portion thereof, a single supporting wheel connected to the main tool-carrying frame, a transversely extending shaft for pivotally uniting the 5 main and draft frames and having a supporting arm thereon, a gauge wheel carried on the supporting arm, a stabilizing structure pivotally carried on the rear portion of the tractor and connected to the transversely extending shaft, said stabilizing structure including a rearwardly extending rockable structure and laterally spaced links depending from the rockable structure for connection with the transverse pivot shaft, a manually adjustable mechanism on the tractor having a lever pivoted on the tractor on substantially the same pivot with the stabilizing structure, means for connecting the lever with the gauge wheel supporting arm and including a rockable element having arms thereon and pivoted on the rearward end of the stabilizing structure at a point in alinement with the connection of the spaced links therewith, a. link element running generally parallel with the rearwardly extending portion of the pivotable stabilizing structure and connected between the lever and one of the arms of the rockable element, a second link element running generally parallel with the spaced links and connected between the gauge 'wheelsupporting arm and the other arm of said rockable element, the said link and rockable elements thereby being so arranged in parallelism with the stabilizing structure that the adjusted position of the gauge wheel relative to the disc tool will be maintained throughout the range of vertical movement of the tool-carrying frame as the gauge wheel follows the ground contour. 11. In combination, a tool-supporting structure, a working tool frame having a working tool thereon, means connecting said tool frame to said tool-supporting structure, gauge means connected to said working tool frame for adjustment with respect to said working tool, means for moving 1 said working tool to and from ground-working position, means on said tool-supporting structure independent of said working tool moving means, for adjusting said gauge means with respect to said working tool and means interconnecting said working tool moving means and said gauge means for maintaining the relative adjustment of said gauge means with respect to said working tool as said working tool is moved to and 1 from ground-working position.

JOHN R. QRELIND. 

